Teaching Assistant Residential Mentor
(Multiple states)
Temporary
Faculty
Experienced
Department: Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Bacterial Genomics, Cell Biology, or Synthetic Chemistry
Reporting to: Site Director & Academic Director
Schedule: Temporary Full-time (6 weeks in June/July/early August, exact dates vary based on faculty and host campus availability)
Location: TBD, with housing included
Travel Required (provided by SSPI):
- Live on one of SSPI’s host university campuses for 6 weeks during Summer 2026 (June/July/August)
- SSPI covers domestic travel to/from campus, housing, and meals while on campus in accordance with policy.
Summary
SSP International, Inc. (SSPI) is an independent non-profit that offers teens an exhilarating and inspiring immersion into hands-on experimental science during its Summer Science Program. 8 faculty and 36 participants form a supportive “living and learning community” over ~6 weeks (~5 for participants). Each participant team completes an authentic research project, taking and analyzing original data. Afterward, they join a worldwide network of 4,200+ alumni of all ages. More information can be found at www.ssp.org.
The Teaching Assistant and Residential Mentor serves a dual role, assisting with both academic instruction, mentorship, and community building in an immersive learning environment with high school seniors. They work closely with the academic directors to support participant learning by assisting participants with problem sets and in using equipment or software. They also work under the direction of the Site Director as residential advisors and personal mentors, supervising participants and organizing recreational and social activities. They are also responsible for monitoring and supporting the social, emotional, and physical well-being of the program participants. The TARM plays a key role in monitoring well-being of the program participants. In cases of unsafe acts, behaviors, or conditions – all faculty have a responsibility to report to the SD and SSPI staff as soon as possible.
The ideal candidates for this position are rising college seniors, graduating seniors, or early graduate students in STEM fields who are passionate about mentoring bright and motivated students.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Live on campus for 6 weeks alongside program participants (1 week of startup without participants + 5 program weeks with participants)
- Assist participants in the classroom and in research spaces with academic content and research topics, equipment, and procedures
- Provide guidance to participants on problem sets (homework), providing feedback on submissions
- Serve as a personal mentor, offering guidance and support to participant
- Supervise participants and organize recreational and social activities to foster community, inclusion, and a sense of belonging in the cohort
- Monitor the emotional, mental, social, and physical health and wellbeing of participants, reporting and responding to concerns in collaboration with other Program faculty and SSPI staff.
- Report any unsafe acts, behaviors, or conditions, as well as any instances that might risk serious injury or harm to participants or faculty, to SSPI administrative staff as soon as possible.
- Communicate effectively with participants and faculty team to solve problems and create a safe, respectful, functional, and inclusive learning and working environment
- Collaborate with other faculty members to ensure a cohesive program experience
- Participate in pre-program training and regular staff meetings
- Flexibly completing other residential, logistical, operational, and/or academic duties as assigned by the Site Director and/or Academic Director
- Uphold and adhere to the standards, expectations, values, and traditions of the Summer Science Program community, including respect for others, communication, collaborative teamwork, timeliness, honesty, integrity, dress code, and personal conduct
- Consistently operate within, and be measured with respect to, SSPI’s mission and values
Requirements:
- Residential leadership, academic teaching/tutoring, or mentorship experience
| Astrophysics | Biochemistry | Bacterial genomics | Synthetic Chemistry | Cell Biology |
| Calculus-based physics, Python programming, and observational astronomy experience | Biochemistry (enzymology and/or molecular modeling) classroom and/or laboratory experience | Microbiology, molecular biology, and/or bioinformatics class and lab experience | Organic and inorganic chemistry classroom and/or laboratory experience | Microbiology, cell and molecular biology, and CRISPR class and lab experience |
Skills and Abilities:
- Strong academic background in relevant STEM fields (and relevant research skills)
| Astrophysics | Biochemistry | Bacterial genomics | Synthetic Chemistry | Cell Biology |
| Strong problem-solving skills in math (multivariable calculus, linear algebra) and physics (calculus-based mechanics, electricity & magnetism). Experience writing & debugging Python code. Experience teaching or TA-ing coding courses is very helpful. Familiarity with observational astrophysics. Experience working with a research-grade telescope is not required, but very helpful. | Protein Purification (familiarity with affinity chromatography) Enzymology (understanding enzyme kinetics and enzyme inhibition) Molecular modeling (familiarity with software such as PyMOL is desirable) Experience writing & debugging code (R Studio experience is most helpful) | Microbiology (basic skills including aseptic technique, maintenance and analysis of bacterial cultures, and media preparation/sterilization) Molecular biology (basic skills such as gDNA extraction, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, micropipette use, primer design) Bioinformatics (coding experience not required, but an understanding of the steps from raw sequencing reads to complete genomes is desirable), experience with de novo genome assembly and Galaxy a plus | Experience with multistep organic and/or inorganic synthesis, either through upper-level Chemistry lab coursework or undergraduate research Characterization of organic/inorganic compounds via IR, NMR, Mass Spectrometry and/or related spectroscopic techniques | Microbiology (basic skills including aseptic technique, maintenance of yeast cultures, and media preparation and sterilization) Molecular biology (basic skills such as PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, micropipette use, cloning and transformation in yeast, primer design) CRISPR Gene Editing (designing gRNA, inducing transformation, and validating CRISPR-based knock-outs in yeast). Classroom experience not required, but good understanding of the experimental steps required from design to validation a must) |
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to explain complex concepts clearly to high school students
- Providing actionable but supportive feedback on participant work (homework)
- Experience with academic writing is preferred, but not required
- Enthusiasm for mentoring and working with adolescents
- Excitement for working in immersive living learning environments
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
- Understanding of access and equity issues for historically underrepresented populations in science
- The ability to remain composed and make sound decisions during times of participant and faculty stress and provide mental and emotional support as needed is required
- Use good judgment and critical thinking skills to make decisions that are in the best interest of all parties, especially in high stress and rapid response situation
- Willingness to work collaboratively and compromise with others to achieve program goals
The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
- In-person, immersive residential program with evening and weekend responsibilities.
- Live on campus alongside participants; eat most meals with participants 7 days a week ; rotate office hours; and take on-call assignments overnight per schedule.
- Attend weekly team meetings and training; additional meetings may occur outside typical hours.
- Navigate campus buildings and learning/lab spaces throughout each day; assist and attend field trips and community activities.
Physical Job Requirements: Applicants should be able to perform the following physical job requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.
- May need to sit, stand, and walk and assume a variety of positions (i.e. bending, kneeling, squatting, crawling, crouching, climbing, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching at or above shoulder level, and reaching overhead.)
- Move from building to building on campus several times every day
- May be required to lift or move up to 50 pounds
- May need to maintain near and far visual acuity
- Must be physically present at the assigned campus/location throughout the program.
- Must hear, understand, and distinguish speech or other sounds
- Authorization to work in the United States
- Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment screening
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. SSPI is committed to increasing the diversity of our participant pool and driven to see that same diversity reflected in our faculty. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with these qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.
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